Guangxu Emperor - House Arrest

House Arrest

For his house arrest, even court eunuchs were chosen to strategically serve the purpose of confining him. There was also a crisis involving Guangxu's removal and abdication and the installment of a new emperor. Although Empress Dowager Cixi never forced Guangxu to abdicate, and his era had in name continued until 1908, Guangxu lost all honours, respect, power, and privileges given to the emperor other than its name. Most of his supporters were exiled, and some, including Tan Sitong, were executed in public by Empress Dowager Cixi. Kang Youwei continued to work for a more progressive Qing Empire while in exile, remaining loyal to the Guangxu Emperor and hoping to eventually restore him to power. Western governments, too, were in favour of the Guangxu Emperor as the pre-eminent authority figure in China, and refused to recognise Empress Dowager Cixi. A joint official document issued by western governments stated that only the name "Guangxu" was to be recognised as the legal authoritative figure, over all others. Empress Dowager Cixi was angered by the move.

There was dispute, for a period of time, over whether the Guangxu Emperor should continue to reign, even if only in name, as emperor, or simply be removed altogether. Most court officials seemed to agree with the latter choice, but some like Ronglu pleaded otherwise. Pujun, son of the conservative Prince Duan, was designated as his heir presumptive.

Following their victory in the Boxer Rebellion, the Eight-Nation Alliance occupied Beijing on 14 August and a Chinese declaration of war which the Guangxu Emperor opposed, but had no power to stop, the Guangxu Emperor fled with Empress Dowager Cixi to Xi'an, dressed in civilian outfits.

Returning to the Forbidden City after the withdrawal of the allied powers, Guangxu was known to have spent the next few years working in his isolated palace with watches and clocks, which had been a childhood fascination, some say in an effort to pass the time until the death of Empress Dowager Cixi. He still had supporters, both inside China or in exile, who wished to return him to power.